Conveyer and chain therefor



Feb. 23, 1937. R, R, WORRALL 2,071,485

CONVEYER AND CHAIN THEREFOR Filed MaICh 4, 1955 Patented Feb. 23, 1937 CONVEYER AND PATENT OFFICE CHAIN THEREFOR Roy R. Worrall, Webster Groves, Mo., assignor to AlveyA Conveyor Manufacturing Co., St. Louis,

`Mo., a corporation of Missouri v Application' March 4, 1935, serial No. 9,173

9 Claims.

bility, vsimplicity and economy of construction.`

The invention consists in the chain conveyer and in the construction, combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing,V which forms part of this specification and wherein like symbols refer to like parts wherever they occur,

run of an endless drag chain embodying my invention,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of said chain with a portion thereof shown in central longitudinal section,

Fig. 3 is a View showing in perspective one of the main links, one of the connecting links and one of the connecting pins of the conveyer chain;l

and

Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-section through the upper and lower runs of the conveyer chain and the supporting framework therefor.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, my invention is illustrated in connectionv with an endless conveyer chain of the type shown in my copending application Serial No. 691,114 led September 27, 1933, now Patent No. 2,010,124 dated August 6, 1935; but the invention is also applicable to other constructions of drag chains. The conveyer chain shown in the accompanying drawing comprises links of two kinds, A and B, alternating with each other. Each main link A comprises vertically spaced plates I and 2, respectively, connected at one end by a relatively narrow web 3 and adjacent to the other end by an upright stud 4, thereby forming an elongated opening 5 that extends through said link from side to side thereof. The spaced, parallel plate or flange 3 short of the outer end thereof; and said web has a central opening 6 extending therethrough fromside to side thereof which'is also elongated in a direction lengthwise of the link. According to the present invention, the top plate I of each main link A is provided at its sides with upwardly diverging portions or horns la that form a longi- Fig. 1 is a plan View of the article supportingv portions l and 2 of the link A merge into the web (Cl. ISS- 189) provided on their outside faces with lugs or bosses 1 adapted to be engaged by the teeth of a sprocket wheel (not shown). The outstanding bosses 'I of the link B are provided with central longitudinally elongated openings 8 that extend horizontally through the branches of said link crosswise thereof and are of substantially the same size and shape as the elongated openings 6 in the webs 3 of the links A.

Each main or article supporting link A is connected to a U-shaped connecting link B by means of a pivot pin C having a cylindrical intermediate portion 9 adapted to loosely t the elongated slot 6 in the web end 3 of the link A and widened end portions I0 adapted to snugly t the elongated openings 8 in the open end of the link B. The drag chain is assembled by passing. one of the branches of a U-shaped connecting link B through the opening 5 in a main link A, With the closed end of the connecting'link astraddle the stud 4 of said main link. Another main link A is then placed with its web 3v between the two free ends of branches of the connecting link B with the elongated opening 6 of said link A in register with the elongated openings 8 in said connecting link; and the two links are then connected together by passing a pivot pin C through said registering openings with its enlarged end portions I0 snugly tting the openings 8 in the connecting link and with its smaller intermediate portion 9 loosely engaging the elongated opening 6 in the main link.

As illustrated in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawing, the framework for supporting the above drag chain and the sprocket wheels therefor comprises spaced parallel side frames Il connected by top and bottom cross-members I2 and I2a, respectively. The top rails of the side frames are in the form of inverted V-shaped members or angles I3 arranged with their top edges above the level of the upper run of the chain and with their inner flanges converging downwardly on each side thereof. Channel-shaped guideways or supporting tracks I4 and I5 for the respective upper and lower runsof the drag chain extend longitudinally of the conveyer between the side frames thereof and are mounted on the top and bottom cross members I2 and I2a, respectively, of the framework of the conveyer. The supporting channel or track I4 for the upper run of the chain has a wear plate I6 in the bottom thereof for slidably supporting the base plates or 'shoes 2 of the links A; and the supporting channel or track I5 for the lower or return run of said chain is provided with an inverted channel-shaped plate I1 for supporting the links A with their side flanges la clear of the bottom of the channel. Angle members I8 are secured to the side flanges of the upper track I4 with one flange extending inwardly in overlapping relation to the outstanding sprocket wheel engaging lugs of the link B.

The hereinbefore described conveyer is particularly adapted for carrying barrels or other articles having cylindrical, or spherical or convexly curved surfaces. In operation, the barrel is rolled or otherwise positioned on the conveyer between the top side rails I3 thereof which act as guard rails to prevent the barrel from rolling off the sides of the conveyer. The barrel then settles itself on the upper run of the chain with its curved undersurface in contact with the opposing ends of the upwardly diverging side flanges la of two adjacent links A, thereby forming four separate points of support for the barrel which tend to center the same on the chain and prevent both crosswise and longitudinal tilting of the barrel thereon. The links A, in turn, are prevented fom tilting crosswise of the conveyor by the shoes or bottom plates 2, which provide a wide flat bearing for the links on the upper trackway, and by the angles I8, which overhang the sprocket wheel lugs l of the links B.

What I claim is:

1. A drag link conveyer comprising an endless conveyer chain, and guideways for slidably supporting the respective upper and lower runs of said chain, said chain comprising links pivotally secured together and having integral side marginal flanges adapted to support articles on their edges, said links being provided with flat base portions adapted to slide along the upper guide- Way, the lower guideway being provided with a raised middle portion adapted to slidably support the article supporting links between their article supporting flanges with said flanges above and clear of the bottom of said lower guideway.

2. A conveyer comprising an endless drag chain, guideways for slidably supporting the upper and lower runs of said chain, said chain comprising links pivotally secured together, some of said links having upwardly diverging article supporting portions, downwardly converging guide rails extending along the sides of the upper run of said chain, and members extending laterally from the inner sides of said guide rails, beneath the article supporting portions of said article supporting links and overhanging portions of other of said links.

3. A conveyer comprising an endless drag chain, guideways for slidably supporting the up' per and lower runs of said chain, said chain comprising links pivotally secured together, some of said links having article supporting portions shaped to engage the article on opposite sides only of said links, downwardly converging guide rails extending along the sides of the -upper run of said chain, and members extending along the sides of the upper guideway and overhanging portions of other of said links.

4. A drag chain link having a bottom portion with a bearing surface suitable for sliding on a supporting way and a top portion with a bearing surface suitable for sliding along a supporting way when the link is in inverted position, said top portion having horns alongside of its bearing surface and extending upwardly far enough to afford vertical support for a keg'or like article at two points thereof clear of said bearing surface.

5. An endless conveyer chain comprising rigid main links and rigid links pivotally connecting said main links, each of said main links having a bottom portion with a bearing surface suitable for sliding on a supporting way and a top portion with a bearing surface suitable for sliding along a supporting way when said link is in inverted position, said top portion having horns alongside of its bearing surface and extending upwardly far enough to afford vertical support for a keg or like article at two points thereof clear of said bearing surface.

6. An endless conveyer chain for articles having transversely and longitudinally convex surl faces comprising pivotally connected links, each of said links having a bottom portion with a bearing surface suitable for sliding on a supporting way and a top portion with a bearing surface suitable for sliding on a supporting way when said link is in inverted position, said top portion having upwardly extending horns along the side of its bearing surface, said links being spaced apart longitudinally of said chain, whereby the opposing ends of the horns of adjacent links are adapted to afford vertical support for the article at four points thereof clear of the body portion of said chain with the center of gravity located between such points.

7. A conveyer chain for articles having transversely and longitudinally convex surfaces comprising rigid main links and rigid links connecting said main links for pivotal movement about a vertical axis, each of said main links having a top portion with upwardly extending horns along the sides thereof, said main links being spaced apart longitudinally of said chain whereby the opposing ends of the horns of the adjacent main links are adapted to aiford vertical support for the article at four points thereof clear of the body portion of saidchain with the center of gravity located between such points, one pair of said points being on one main link and the other pair being on the other main adjacent link, whereby relative self-adjustment of said pairs of points are permitted by said pivotal connection to stabilize seating of the article on said points.

8. A conveyer comprising an endless drag link conveyer chain and ways for slidably supporting the respective upper and lower runs of said chain, said chain comprising links pivotally secured together and having a bottom portion with a bearing surface slidable along the upper way and a top portion with a bearing surface slidable along the lower way, said top portion having horns alongside of its bearing surface that extend upwardly far enough to afford vertical support for a keg or similar article at two points thereof clear of said bearing surface.

9. A conveyer for articles having transversely and longitudinally convex surfaces comprising an endless drag link chain and ways for slidably supporting the respective upper and lower runs of said chain, said chain comprising links pivotally'secured together and having a bottom portion with a bearing surface slidable along the upper way and a top portion with a bearing surface slidable along the lower way and having horns alongside of its bearing surface, said links being spaced apart longitudinally of said chain, whereby the opposing ends of the horns of adjacent links are adapted to afford vertical support for the article at four points thereof clear of the bearing surface therebetween with the center 0f gravity located between such points.

ROY R. WORRAIL. 

